A new network of hard-working, ambitious and passionate women working to make sure the voices of women around the world are heard is live and ready to let the world know that we are here. The National Young Women's Council was recently launched and is ready to promote change on various social justice issues.
The idea of the council came after working with my students in a female empowerment program, Women Inspiring Success and Empowering Girls (W.I.S.E. Girls) that I founded this past spring. We spent the day in workshops focusing on leadership development, body image and health. My girls spoke passionately about the injustices that so many girls their age and older face in today's society. I was so amazed to see them so eager to change their lives and help others. One girl stated that it felt like the world was against her. She felt the media didn't "accept" her the way she is and she was treated unfairly based on her gender and ethnicity. I took their pain and turned it into power for change.
This past spring, I began to brainstorm ways to further my activism work with female empowerment and working with women. Finally, I came up with the idea to form a network of women leaders and activists who were just as passionate as I am and who come from different backgrounds to speak up for girls and women around the world. I want to be the voice for the girl who feels like nobody cares. I care, and the women of The National Young Women's Council care.
With that said, we exist to create a diverse and inclusive grassroots movement dedicated to women and their allies in advancing the scope of women in politics, media and beyond. The council currently has more than 20 women leaders who range from high school students to young professionals. We are advocates that work on issues such as: STEM, leadership development, education reform, international affairs, college readiness, domestic violence, LGBTQ rights and more.
Within our council we have an executive council that governs our organization in terms of marketing, branding, communications, finances, outreach and recruitment. In addition, our team includes an expert in each issue area that we concentrate on.
Every day we work to build and strengthen our council. We hope to one day partner with the White House Council on Women and Girls in order to serve in an advisory role over the legislation of women's issues.
In the meantime, please make sure to check out our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @nationalywc.